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History

Fingolfin led the largest host of the Ñoldor when they fled Aman for Middle-earth, even though he thought this unwise; he did not want to abandon his people to Fëanor. He was the one who took them across the ice of the Helcaraxë, and soon after, at the rising of the Sun, he came to the Gates of Angband and smote upon them, but Morgoth stayed hidden inside. Fingolfin and the Noldor then came to the northern shores of Lake Mithrim, from which the Fëanorian part of the host had withdrawn.

After defeating the Orcs in the Dagor Aglareb ("Glorious Battle"), Fingolfin maintained the Siege of Angband for nearly four hundred years. But the Siege was ended by the sudden assaults of Morgoth in the Dagor Bragollach ("Battle of Sudden Flame"), and many peoples of Beleriand fled. In the end Fingolfin rode to Angband alone to challenge Morgoth to single combat, and there died after a mighty duel, wounding Morgoth seven times with his sword Ringil. Thorondor the King of Eagles then brought Fingolfin's body to a mountaintop overlooking Gondolin, and Turgon built a cairn over the remains of his father.

"In that vast shadow once of yoreFingolfin stood: his shield he borewith field of heaven’s blue and starof crystal shining pale afar.In overmastering wrath and hatedesperate he smote upon that gate,the Gnomish king, there standing lone,while endless fortresses of stoneengulfed the thin clear ringing keenof silver horn and baldric green."